Cass Gilbert Papers

A Finding Aid to the Collection in the

Prepared by Richard L. McCormack and Grover Batts

Manuscript Division, Library of Congress

Washington, D.C.

2012 Contact information: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/mss.contact

Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress Manuscript Division, 2012 Finding aid URL: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms012134 Collection Summary Title: Cass Gilbert Papers Span Dates: 1841-1961 Bulk Dates: (bulk 1886-1934) ID No.: MSS22780 Creator: Gilbert, Cass, 1859-1934 Extent: 9,000 items ; 30 containers plus 1 oversize ; 13 linear feet Language: Collection material in English Repository: Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Abstract: Architect. Correspondence, diaries, biographical material, financial papers, speeches, articles, poems, and memorabilia relating to Gilbert’s family and his work as an architect. Includes letters addressed to Thomas Jefferson by William Thornton and typescript of a letter to Jefferson from James R. Dermott.

Selected Search Terms The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein. People Blashfield, Edwin Howland, 1848-1936--Correspondence. Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947--Correspondence. Cope, Arthur--Correspondence. Cox, Kenyon, 1856-1919--Correspondence. Dermott, James R. (James Reed)--Correspondence. French, Daniel Chester, 1850-1931--Correspondence. Gilbert family--Correspondence. Gilbert family. Gilbert, Cass, 1859-1934. Gilbert, Cass, b. 1894. Cass Gilbert letterbooks. 1936-1941. Gilbert, Julia Finch, 1862-1952--Correspondence. Gilbert, Samuel, b. ca. 1865--Correspondence. House, Edward Mandell, 1858-1938--Correspondence. Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826--Correspondence. Jusserand, J. J. (Jean Jules), 1855-1932--Correspondence. Moore, Charles, 1855-1942--Correspondence. Root, Elihu, 1845-1937--Correspondence. Thornton, William, 1759-1828--Correspondence. Webb, Aston, Sir, 1849-1930--Correspondence. Organizations State Capitol (Little Rock, Ark.) Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America--Buildings. Federal Courts Building (, N.Y.) State Capitol (Saint Paul, Minn. : 1905- ) New York Life Insurance Company--Buildings. United States. Dept. of the Treasury--Buildings. United States. Supreme Court--Buildings. Capitol Complex (Charleston, W. Va.) (New York, N.Y.) Subjects Architecture--Arkansas--Little Rock. Architecture--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Architecture--New York (State)--New York.

Cass Gilbert Papers 2 Architecture--United States. Architecture--Washington (D.C.) Architecture--West Virginia--Charleston. Architecture. Buildings--New York (State)--New York. Public buildings--Arkansas--Little Rock. Public buildings--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Public buildings--New York (State)--New York. Public buildings--Washington (D.C.) Public buildings--West Virginia--Charleston. World politics. Places United States--Foreign relations. United States--Politics and government. Occupations Architects.

Administrative Information Provenance The papers of Cass Gilbert, architect, were deposited in the Library of Congress by his granddaughter, Mrs. Walter A. Bastedo, in 1962. In 1967, Bastedo converted the deposit to a gift, and in 1971 she gave additional papers to the Library. Processing History The collection was processed in 1963 and reprocessed with an addition in 1972. The finding aid was revised in 1979 and 2012. Transfers Photographs, water colors, and drawings received with the Cass Gilbert papers have been transferred to the Prints and Photographs Division where they are identified as part of these papers. Other Repositories Other papers of Cass Gilbert are at the Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, Minn., chiefly relating to the Building. A collection of Gilbert's portraits, paintings, and sketch books is at the Archives Center, National Musuem of American History, Washington, D.C.. The largest collection of Gilbert's papers is at the New-York Historical Society in New York, N.Y. Copyright Status Copyright in the unpublished writings of Cass Gilbert in these papers and in other collections of papers in the custody of the Library of Congress was dedicated to the public, except that these rights were reserved to Mrs. Bastedo for her lifetime. Access and Restrictions The papers of Cass Gilbert are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use. Preferred Citation Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Container number, Cass Gilbert Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Cass Gilbert Papers 3 Biographical Note Date Event 1859, 24 Nov. Born, Zanesville, Ohio

1868 Moved to St. Paul, Minn.

1878 Attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.

1880 Joined architectural firm of McKim, Mead, and Whiten

1883 Opened his own architectural firm, St. Paul, Minn.

1887 Married Julia T. Finch

1908-1909 President, American Institute of Architects

1913 Architect of the Woolworth Building, New York, N.Y.

1913-1914 President, Architectural League of New York

1919-1920 President, National Institute of Arts and Letters

1921 Completed work on the Public Library, Detroit, Mich.

1921-1923 Director, American Academy of Arts and Letters

1929 Received commission to design the United States Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C.

1931 Completed work on , New York, N.Y.

1934, 17 May Died, Brockenhurst, England

Scope and Content Note The papers of Cass Gilbert (1859-1934) span the years 1801-1961, with the bulk of the papers dated between 1886 and 1934. The collection is organized into seven series: Diaries; General Correspondence; Special Correspondence; Speech, Article, and Poetry File; Letterbooks of Cass Gilbert, Jr.; Miscellany, and Oversize. There are letters sent and received by Cass Gilbert for the years 1880-1934 as well as correspondence of his wife, Julia Finch Gilbert; brother, Samuel Gilbert; other family members; and letterbooks of his son, Cass Gilbert, Jr. (born 1894). The General Correspondence mainly concerns his architectural plans for the Woolworth Building, the New York Life Insurance Building, the Federal Courts Building in New York, the United States Treasury Annex, the United States Chamber of Commerce Building, the United States Supreme Court Building, and state capitol buildings in Minnesota, Arkansas, and West Virginia. The correspondence also reflects Gilbert's interest in national and international political affairs. Among the principal correspondents are Edwin Howland Blashfield, Nicholas Murray Butler, Arthur Cope, Kenyon Cox, , Edward Mandell House, J. J. Jusserand, Charles Moore, Elihu Root, and Aston Webb. The Special Correspondence contains two letters received by President Thomas Jefferson from William Thornton on June 9, 1802, and June 28, 1804, and a typescript copy of James R. Dermott's letter to Jefferson dated March 7, 1801. These manuscripts came into Gilbert's possession in 1915 when they were presented to him by W. R. Bixby.

Cass Gilbert Papers 4 The papers also include many of the diaries that Gilbert kept from 1890 to 1934 as well as speeches, articles, and poems in manuscript and printed form. A Miscellany file and Oversize series complete the collection.

Arrangement of the Papers This collection is arranged in seven series: • Diaries, 1890-1934 • General Correspondence, 1841-1961 • Special Correspondence, 1801-1804 • Speech, Article, and Poetry File • Letterbooks of Cass Gilbert, Jr., 1936-1941 • Miscellany • Oversize

Cass Gilbert Papers 5 Description of Series

Container Series BOX 1 Diaries, 1890-1934 Diaries of Cass Gilbert. Arranged chronologically.

BOX 2-15 General Correspondence, 1841-1961 Letters sent and received, including family letters. Arranged chronologically.

BOX 15 Special Correspondence, 1801-1804 Three letters addressed to Thomas Jefferson. Arranged chronologically.

BOX 16-18 Speech, Article, and Poetry File Handwritten and printed writings. Arranged by type of writing or material.

BOX 19-20 Letterbooks of Cass Gilbert, Jr., 1936-1941 Volumes of letters sent by Cass Gilbert’s son. Arranged chronologically.

BOX 21-31 Miscellany Financial papers, biographical material, printed matter, and certificates and awards. Arranged by type of material.

BOX OV 1 Oversize Certificates and awards. Described according to the series and container from which the material was removed.

Cass Gilbert Papers 6 Container List

Container Contents

BOX 1 Diaries, 1890-1934 Diaries of Cass Gilbert. Arranged chronologically.

BOX 1 1890-1934

BOX 2-15 General Correspondence, 1841-1961 Letters sent and received, including family letters. Arranged chronologically.

BOX 2 1841-1886 BOX 3 1886-1887 BOX 4 1887 BOX 5 1887-1890 BOX 6 1891-1903 BOX 7 1904-1908 BOX 8 1909-1914 BOX 9 1915-1919 BOX 10 1920-1924 BOX 11 1925-1926 BOX 12 1927-1929 BOX 13 1930-1932 BOX 14 1933-1934 BOX 15 1934-1961

BOX 15 Special Correspondence, 1801-1804 Three letters addressed to Thomas Jefferson. Arranged chronologically.

BOX 15 Letters to Thomas Jefferson, 1801-1804

BOX 16-18 Speech, Article, and Poetry File Handwritten and printed writings. Arranged by type of writing or material.

BOX 16 Speeches BOX 17 Speeches BOX 17 Articles BOX 18 Poetry Notes

BOX 19-20 Letterbooks of Cass Gilbert, Jr., 1936-1941 Volumes of letters sent by Cass Gilbert’s son. Arranged chronologically.

Cass Gilbert Papers 7 Letterbooks of Cass Gilbert, Jr., 1936-1941 Container Contents

BOX 19 1936-1938 BOX 20 1938-1941

BOX 21-31 Miscellany Financial papers, biographical material, printed matter, and certificates and awards. Arranged by type of material.

BOX 21-22 Invitations BOX 21-22 Calling cards BOX 23 Financial papers BOX 23 Biographical material BOX 23 Certificates and awards See Oversize BOX 24 Specifications for American Insurance Co. Building BOX 25-30 Printed matter

BOX OV 1 Oversize Certificates and awards. Described according to the series and container from which the material was removed.

BOX OV 1 Certificates and awards (Container 23)

Cass Gilbert Papers 8